I wanted to play for the fans - Asamoah Gyan opens up on why he aimed playing at 2022 World Cup

Former Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan has revealed that he planned to play at the 2022 World Cup for the fans in Qatar.

Before the tournament in the Gulf country, the 37-year-old hinted at his desire to return to the national team.

However, Otto Addo, who was the head coach of the team left out the former Sunderland and Liberty Professionals striker out of his final squad for the tournament.

Speaking in an interview, the former Al Ain goal poacher said his motivation to play at the World Cup was because of motivation he got from lots of Ghanaians adding that he bought into the idea but knew that he had to earn the call-up.

“There were lots of talk on the street with people motivating you that you can really do it. My aim was to do it for the people and make them happy. They made me happy and they are the same people calling me that you can do it.

“So, I was like let me do it. Let me get to that level and see but unfortunately, it didn’t happen… I said in one of the interviews that I had to earn the call-up,” he said in response to some of the critique that greeted his announcement.

“People took it wrongly (that) I said I was returning to the national team as if the national team is mine. So, people took it wrong and people started bashing me, saying somethings and insulting me,” he lamented.

Asamoah Gyan is Africa’s top scorer at the World Cup with six goals. He scored 51 goals in 109 appearances to become the all-time scorer for the Black Stars.

He featured at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups in Germany, South Africa and Brazil.